GUWAHATI, Dec 12: The Assam government distributed financial assistance among 442 former Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) cadres at a financial grants distribution ceremony organised by the state home department and Special Branch of Assam Police here on Thursday.
Cheques for Rs 2 lakh each were distributed among the former BLT cadres, who were yet to be rehabilitated and hail from 12 districts outside Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) such as Kamrup (Metro), Biswanath, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Kamrup (Rural), Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Goalpara and West Karbi Anglong.
Notably, BLT, a militant group, had signed a MoS (Memorandum of Settlement) with the central government and the Assam Government on February 10, 2003.
Assam Cabinet minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, alongside Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief executive member Hagrama Mohilary, distributed the grants as part of the state government’s continued efforts to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals returning to the mainstream.
The programme was also attended by Assam DGP Harmeet Singh; additional chief secretary Ajay Tewari and Special ADGP Hiren Chandra Nath.
Speaking at the programme, Mallabaruah conveyed gratitude on behalf of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the state government while appreciating the former cadres for choosing the path of rehabilitation and development.
The minister noted that since 2020 the Government of Assam and the Government of India have signed five historic memorandums of settlement, including the NDFB Accord, Karbi Peace Accord, Adivasi Peace Accord, DNLA Agreement and ULFA Peace Agreement, paving the way for lasting peace in the region.
These agreements have brought 9,022 cadres of the militant groups back into the mainstream, in addition to more than 2,000 members of smaller groups rehabilitated under state schemes.
Reflecting on the past, the minister said Assam had suffered for decades as young people were compelled to take up arms owing to neglect and lack of opportunity.
